ON SEA TROUT 



as tree roots and weeds, and that the angler can follow the 

 fish either along the bank or by wading. 



Every now and then comes the great event of hooking a 

 grilse or salmon on a sea trout rod and fine tackle, and then 

 there is a long and most interesting contest, to which the angler 

 addresses himself, with every nerve strung by excitement. At 

 first, his business is to be very modest in asserting himself, and 

 to save his tackle by following the fish as much as he can, rather 

 than by letting out line, which may get drowned in the current. 

 But from the first he selects some favourable piece of water 

 below him, and endeavours to conduct the fish towards it. 

 Often enough, in spite of all he can do, the contest drifts away 

 from the desired place ; for the fish may get there too soon 

 and carry the angler past it, in which case he must then select 

 with his eye some other place and make that the object of his 

 movements. The best place of all for the last stage of the 

 fight, when the angler feels that the time has come to contend 

 not only for the safety of his tackle but for victory, is a quiet 

 backwater with a shelving bank of gravel, which is even, and 

 free from very large stones. Any smooth, shallow place will 

 do well enough, but a backwater sometimes brings sudden 

 confusion and helplessness upon a tired fish. When a fresh 

 grilse or salmon has been landed on sea trout tackle and a 

 single-handed rod, the angler must have made good use of his 

 resources of quickness, judgment, decision, patience and self- 

 control, and should feel that, come what may afterwards, the 

 good fortune of that day's angling has been made safe. 



Hitherto angling for sea trout in rivers only has been dis- 



39 



